Cochise County residents press supervisors for forensic audit, clear ballot language on jail bond

BISBEE, Ariz. — At a June 17 meeting of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors acting as the Cochise County Jail District Board of Directors, residents urged the board to require detailed ballot language for any future jail bond and to commission a forensic audit of prior jail-district spending before asking voters to approve new taxes.

Public commenters raised a series of questions about how any bond would be paid, how existing funds would be applied, and whether bond proceeds could be used for jail operations. Randall Limbach, a Sierra Vista resident, told the board, "The taxpayers demand real and timely accountability," and asked for "a comprehensive forensic audit of the sheriff's office to be conducted by an independent auditor with absolutely no connections to Cochise County and or any of its employees or elected officials." Limbach also asked whether a bond would be reduced by money already on hand and whether voting…